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InformationalSplunk security contentTeoderick Contreras +2

Windows Set Account Password Policy To Unlimited Via Net

The following analytic detects the use of net.exe or net1.exe to configure the Windows maximum password age policy as unlimited. It leverages process creation telemetry from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)…

Description

The following analytic detects the use of net.exe or net1.exe to configure the Windows maximum password age policy as unlimited. It leverages process creation telemetry from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents and identifies executions of the `net accounts` command using the `/maxpwage:unlimited` option. When specified, Windows configures the maximum password age with an unlimited value, effectively preventing passwords governed by the affected password policy from expiring. This behavior is significant because an adversary may modify password expiration settings to weaken credential security controls and maintain access to compromised accounts for an extended period. If confirmed malicious, this activity may indicate an attempt to establish or maintain persistence by preventing expected password rotation from invalidating credentials under the affected password policy.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform
ESXiIaaSLinuxmacOSWindows

The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.

Log source category
crowdstrike_processrollup2sysmon_eventid_1windows_event_log_security_4688

Known benign triggers

  • This behavior is not commonly seen in production environment and not advisable, investigate the activity and determine if it is malicious. Apply additional filters to reduce false positives as needed.

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